From Izmir to Bremen: Economic synergies in the twin cities
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From Izmir to Bremen: Economic synergies in the twin cities

On December 20, 2022 the Bremen-Izmir Economic Forum took place in the House of Science in Bremen, Germany. This year’s topics? Sustainable agriculture and food, renewable energy and start-ups. Bremen and Izmir mayors Andreas Bovenschulte and Tunç Soyer praised the synergies and the importance of the twin cities.

The Bremen-Izmir Forum is an international conference that brings together key stakeholders in the fields of research, business and politics in order to discuss and promote the potential of the region of Izmir, Turkey. The forum was first held in October 2016 and has since become an annual event.

Ali Eliş, Head of DIDER Bremen Office, welcomed everyone in the House of Science. (Source: Constructor University)Ali Eliş, Head of DIDER Bremen Office, welcomed everyone in the House of Science. (Source: Constructor University)

Following a visit from Bremen’s mayor, Andreas Bovenschulte, to Izmir last June to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the cities’ partnership, Tunç Soyer, mayor of Izmir now returned the visit. He thanked everyone for their hospitality and emphasized the importance of city partnerships and solidarity in today’s world. According to Soyer, interpersonal relations are key to innovation and development and to create local solutions for global challenges.

Bovenschulte highlighted the contribution of the Turkish population in Bremen to Bremen’s economic success, dating back to the 1960s. He also talked about Bremen as a location for innovation, science and entrepreneurial minds, praising the city’s start-up network as a great basis for joint ventures.

Andreas Bovenschulte, mayor of Bremen, talked about the twin cities’ shared values. (Source: Constructor University)Andreas Bovenschulte, mayor of Bremen, talked about the twin cities’ shared values. (Source: Constructor University)

In addition to both mayors, Ali Eliş, Head of DIDER Bremen Office, Peter Kurt Glade, Commercial Director of SunExpress Airlines and Professor Thomas Auf der Heyde, Provost of Constructor University gave opening speeches.

The forum focused on topics such as sustainable agriculture and food, renewable energy as well as start-ups. Keynote speakers and panelists from both German and Turkish business, research and political fields gave presentations and workshops on the topics. Among them, Constructor University Professor Yilmaz Uygun, who also played an important role in organizing the forum, Cornelius Neumann-Redlin, President of the Bremen State Employers Association and Göktürk Altinbas from the Aegean Free Zone Development and Operating Company.

Mayors Andreas Bovenschulte and Tunç Soyer with further representatives of both cities at the Bremen-Izmir Economic Forum. (Source: Constructor University)Mayors Andreas Bovenschulte and Tunç Soyer with further representatives of both cities at the Bremen-Izmir Economic Forum. (Source: Constructor University)

The forum provided an excellent platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences between the participants. It was co-organized by the Bremen Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Izmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was also supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness of Turkey, and the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry.


About Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University):
An international community, vibrant and diverse. Offering academic excellence, ensuring the highest standards in research and teaching. Empowering students to solve the world's pressing challenges through knowledge and science: Constructor University is a top-ranked, English-speaking, private university. Founded in 2001, it provides a wide range of 25+ academic programs and PhD. The Constructor ecosystem comprises the University, located in Bremen, Germany, and an institute in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Over 1.800 students from more than 110 nations on campus benefit from a unique interdisciplinary, foundational theoretical and practical education. Enriched with a buzzing entrepreneurial culture that prepares young professionals to thrive in the job market. With 6.000+ alumni worldwide, our community keeps growing – with our highest cohort ever registered in 2022.
The research-centric faculty projects are funded by the German Research Foundation and the European Union's Framework Program for Research and Innovation as well as by globally leading companies.
The Constructor ecosystem benefits from partnerships with high-ranked universities such as Carnegie Mellon, the University of Geneva or the National University of Singapore School of Computing, and technology companies such as Anisoprint, JetBrains and ChemDiv.

Constructor is a global institution dedicated to addressing the main challenges of the world through science, education, and technology. Apart from the University, the ecosystem relies on several for-profit entities that provide technology infrastructures and solutions, life-long education programs, consulting services, and funding: Alemira by Constructor, Rolos by Constructor, Constructor Learning and Constructor Capital.
For more information: www.constructor.university
 
Contact:
Maike Lempka | Corporate Communications
presse@jacobs-university.de | Tel.: +49 421 200-4504